Emily Blunt almost lost her 'Sicario' role to a man because people repeatedly told the director it would be unwise to have a female police officer

The 32-year-old actress plays Kate Macy in the crime drama but director Denis Villeneuve revealed the role was almost given to someone else as people kept telling him the part should be re-written for a man.

Turning to Denis during a talk at Cannes Film Festival, Emily said: "In this film, you'd been asked early on if you'd write my part for a guy."

Denis explained: "People were afraid [of the screenplay] because the lead was female.

"The screenwriter was asked to rewrite it several times."

Although Lionsgate studio later came on board and agreed the character should stay as a woman, Emily explained she believes they wanted to recast the role because she plays a police officer.

She said: "I found this character damaged and vulnerable. She's struggling in the role of being a female cop. It's not safe."

However, the 'Into the Woods' star admitted she has got to a point where she's "become quite used to" acting in films with few other females because of the rife sexism within the film industry.

When questioned about her lack of female co-stars, she said: "It's something I've become quite used to. It happens quite a lot on films. There aren't a ton of chicks around."